Neath Port Talbot

Neath Port Talbot's population grew in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. Data from the census show there were changes in health, relationships and religion.

The population reached nearly 140,000

Between the last two censuses, the population of Neath Port Talbot increased by 4.0%, from about 134,000 to 140,000.

The addition of just over 5,300 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of Wales (up 5.5% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Neath Port Talbot was home to, on average, 2.3 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across Wales

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across Wales, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Fall in proportion of Welsh speakers

The proportion of Welsh speakers in Neath Port Talbot fell from 18% to 15% in the 10 years leading up to Census 2011.

There are 2,484 fewer people living here who spoke Welsh compared with 2001, while the number of people who did not spoke Welsh increased by 7,457.

In nearby Swansea, 11% of people over the age of three could speak some Welsh, down from 13% at the 2001 census. Across Wales, the proportion fell from 21% to 19%.

Monmouthshire was one of the few areas that saw an increase in the proportion of Welsh speakers (from 9.0% in 2001 to 9.9% in 2011), while Carmarthenshire saw the largest fall (from 50% to 44%).

The proportion of people who could speak Welsh was lower than across Wales

Percentage of people aged three and over that that said they could speak Welsh across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

This area saw Wales' second-largest rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care.

In 2011, just under 1 in 20 (4.8%) in Neath Port Talbot reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 4.2% in 2001. The percentage that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 2.0% to 2.3%.

The largest increase occurred in Denbighshire (from 3.0% to 3.6%).

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Neath Port Talbot remained close to 4.8%

Percentage of usual residents in Wales, Swansea and Neath Port Talbot by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

This area saw Wales' third-largest fall in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

Every local authority area across Wales saw a fall in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad, as the regional average fell from 12% to 7.6%.

In 2011, just over 1 in 10 (10%) in Neath Port Talbot said their health was bad or very bad, compared with 16% in 2001. The percentage that perceived their health as good or very good increased from 60% to 73%.

The largest decrease occurred in Merthyr Tydfil (from 18% to 11%) followed by Rhondda Cynon Taf (from 16% to 9.6%).

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Neath Port Talbot decreased by 5.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Neath Port Talbot, Swansea and Wales said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

This area saw Wales' third-largest rise in the proportion of households with an unmarried couple.

In 2011, just over 1 in 11 (9.5%) households in Neath Port Talbot had an unmarried couple, compared with 6.2% in 2001. The percentage with just a single person decreased from 30% to 30%.

The largest increase occurred in Merthyr Tydfil (from 6.4% to 11%) followed by Blaenau Gwent (from 7.1% to 10%).

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Neath Port Talbot increased by 3.2 percentage points

Percentage of households in Neath Port Talbot, Swansea and Wales that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

More adults are separated from partners

This area saw Wales' third-largest rise in the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner.

During this period, Neath Port Talbot overtook Torfaen and Newport to become the Wales local authority area with the fourth-highest percentage of people who had divorced or separated.

In 2011, just over one in eight (13%) people aged 16 and over in Neath Port Talbot said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner, compared with 11% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 53% to 48%.

The largest increase occurred in Bridgend (from 11% to 13%) followed by Powys (from 10.0% to 12%).

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was higher than across Wales

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links